Thai government to freeze goods prices until March

Bangkok, Jan 13 (TNA) Thai government has announced thatit will not allow any price hike of consumer products by localmanufacturers until March this year to ease people''s burden onrising costs of living.

Watcharee Wimuktayont, Director-General of the ThaiMinistry of Commerce''s Department of Internal Trade, confirmedyesterday the price freezing policy, saying that herdepartment will not approve any proposed price rise by localproducers or suppliers over the next two months.

The government''s latest move followed the Thai Cabinet''sendorsement of a package of nine social welfare measures, aspart of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva''s people''sdevelopment policy.

The welfare measures include low-interest loans for taxidrivers, food vendors and farmers; free electricity forminimal monthly use of no more than 90 units per household; acap on diesel fuel, free education to local students andextended social security benefits to millions of low-incomeThais.

Meanwhile, the Thai Ministry of Finance projected thatthe Thai economy should grow by 4.5 per cent this year--on topof its 8 per cent growth last year. (TNA)